Thrust-bearing journal-box



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

G. M. CLARK.

THRUST BEARING JOURNAL BOX. No. 356,099. Patented Jan. 18,1887

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, G. M. CLARK.

THRUST BEARING JOURNAL BOX. No. 356,099 Patented Jan. 18, '1887.

lqwcweooeo STATES ATENT Fries.

TH RUST-BEARING JOURNAL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 356,099, dated January18, 1887.

Application filed September 3, 1886. Serial No. 212,613. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE MARSHALL CLARK, of Higganum, (in the townofH-addam,) county of Middlesex, and State of Connecticut, haveinventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Thrust'Bearing Journal-Boxes; andI do hereby declare that the following specification, taken inconnection with the drawings furnished and forming a part thereof, is aclear, true, and complete description of the several features of myinvention.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effectivethrust-bearing journalbox, by which all variations in the lines ofthrusting force to which such bearings are or may be subjected will beequally resisted or borne, and with a minimum of friction, and also witha minimum liability of uneven wear at any of the contact-surfaces.

- A thrustbearing box embodying my invention is of special value inconnection with shafts inclined to each other and rotated at variousangles under conditions which necessarily involve thrusting force towardeach other;

but it has also substantial value in connection with step-seats, andalso with knucklejoint levers adapted to heavy service.

After fully describing my improved thrustbearing boxes of various kindsillustrated in the drawings, the features deemed novel will be specifiedin the several clauses of claim hereunto annexed.

Referring to the drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 illustrate, respectively,in top, bottom, and side views, a double thrust-bearing box constructedin accordance with my invention, as when'adapted for use with tworevolving thrust-shafts. Fig. 4 is a lateral vertical central section ofthe same. Fig. 5 illustrates, in vertical section, a simple form ofthrust-bearing box adapted to service as a step-bearing. Fig. 6illustrates, in vertical section, a double thrust-bearing box adaptedfor use with knuckle-joint levers.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, it is to be understood that thehanger A may be indefinitely varied inform and construction withoutdeparture from my invention. As here shown, it is adapted to slide intoand interlock with a grooved hanger plate or socket, (not shown,) andwhich in turn would be secured to any suitable foundation, whetherupright or horizontal. The shell of the journal-box Bis constructed'intwo parts, a and b, the part a be ing integral with the hanger and thepart b bolted thereto on a line coincident with the center of theinterior of the box. The chambeer 0 within the box is spherical, andcontains the ball d, which is composed of metal, or an alloy of anysuitable kind, according to the character of service to be performed. Ifspecially exposed to corrosive influences and to heavy service,phosphorbronze may be employed to good advantage; but in most casessteel or iron can be relied upon, and I have obtained good results withcast-iron balls in certain lines of service. In its best form said ballis hollow and provided with a number of perforations, as at 01, thusaffording a lubricating-chamber, into which from time to time a solid.lubricant may be packed for emergencies, as when regular oiling has beenneglected and the bearing heated, whereupon the reserve lubricant willbe delivered. At each side of the box there is an annular opening, a,for the reception of a cupshaped thrust-bearing, 0, having a concaveface at e, conforming to the surface of the ball d, and also an exteriorconvex face, corresponding to the coincident interior surface of thebox-chaniber, and at e an annular neck much smaller than said opening a.At'the outer end of said cup-shaped thrustbearing there is in thisinstance a flange, e, which can with bolts serve as a means for couplingit to a revolving shaft, although in this instance the shafts f haveeach a threaded neck which occupies a tapped central hole in saidflange, which extends through the neck. It is, however, to be understoodthat it is immaterial how said shafts may be coupledto the cup-shapedbearings e, and that said shafts and said bearings may be integralwithout in any manner affecting my invention. In this form of thrust-boxit will be seen that when either or both of said shafts are revolvedunder equalthrusting strains toward each other each shaft will serve asan abutment for the other, and that the interposed ball will be free torevolve with either and independently of the other, or with both, andthat fresh contact-surfaces will be continuously presented, thusmaintaining uniform bearingcontacts with-a minimum liability of unequalWear. It

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will also be seen that if either shaft be subjected to thrusting strainsin excess of those borne by the other the box itself resists saidunequal strain at its bearing-contact with the convex or outer face ofthe thrust-bearing e of the shaft by which the lesser thrusting force isborne, said convex face being interposed between the ball and thecoincident surface of said box.

concave seat at h for directly receiving the ball, and said shell isconstructed in two parts bolted together, for properly locking theballand-shaft seat therein as against any undue freedom of movement.WVith this form of thrust-bearing it will be readily, seen that shouldthe box, by the uneven settling of its foundation in any direction ofinclination, be itself thrown out of its normal position with relationtothe shaft, the relations of the contacts at the upper and the lowersurfaces of the ball would remain substantially the same, and that aminimum of friction would be involved without laterally straining thevertical shaft.

In Fig. 6 the thrust-bearing box z'is applied in connection with thelevers 2",coupled to form the well-known knucklejoint, sometimes calledtoggle-joint. In this case the levers z" have no rotativc movement ontheir longitudinal axes, but each being provided with a concavethrust-bearing, e, and both of these engaging .with the interposed ball(I, it will be seen that contacts are afforded which induce more or lessrotation of the ball, and that downward strains on the box t induceequal thrusting strains on both levers, and that the ball and theconcave seats bear said strains substantially as when rotativethrust-shafts are used, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

However the form of my box may be varied,

or whatever the special use intended, it must 'contain a ball interposedbetween two cupshaped or concave seats, whether both of the latter bemovable independently of .the ball and the shell of the box, or whetheronly one of said seats is thus movable and the other stationary.

My thrust-bearing box differs radically from the well-knownball-and-socket joint in many respects, although in both a correspondingdegree of freedom of angular movement is afforded. In the ordinaryball-and-socket joint, however, the contacts are comparatively fixed intheir relations to each other, whereas in my boxes said contacts areconstantly variable, and hence no unequal wear can occur, whereas in theball-and-socket joint wear unduly results at those contacts which aresubstantially at right angles to the line in which thrusting force isapplied to thejoint.

Many other forms of my boxes could have been shown, but thoseillustrated fairly indicate three general varieties, and they will nodoubt be ample for guiding persons skilled in such matters to theproduction of other forms which may be deemed better suited to somespecial uses. So, also, might I have indicated many other connections inwhich my thrustboxes can be profitably employed; but I deem it onlynecessary to add that I have found the form shown in Fig. l'to be ofgreat practical value for coupling the shafts of disk-barrows; and alsothat the form indicated in Fig. 5 is admirably suited for the steps ofheavy spindles in large screw-stem valves intended to be opened againstheavy pressures.

Having thus described my invent-ion, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Paten tl. The combination, substantially as hereinbeforedescribed, of a ball, a journal-box inclosing said ball, a cup-shapedbearing-seat within said box, and a cup-shaped thrust-bearing which isfitted to said ball, whereby, regardless of variations in the directionof th rusting force, said ball will afford shifting contacts to both ofsaid cup-shaped seats.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore described, of ajournal-box, a pair of revolving shafts each provided with a cupshapedseat and occupying portions of said box, and a ball interposed betweensaid shaftseats and within said box, whereby thrusting strains upon saidshafts, or either of them,toward said box is borne by said ball, and thecontact-surfaces of said ball constantly shifted.

3. The combination, with a journal-box, of a pair of interior concave orcup-shaped seats and an interposed hollow perforated ball,sub stantiallyas described, whereby said ball may be charged with. a lubricant forgradual delivery.

GEORGE MARSHALL CLARK.

Vitnesses:

PHILIP F. LARNER, WM. 0. W001).

